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San Luis Obispo DUI Attorney

Experienced DUI Defense for the Central Coast: (805) 288-7078

Whether you are facing your first ever drunk driving charge, or you have
a prior record of driving under the influence (DUI) convictions, you can
rely on The Law Office of Trace Milan to defend your legal rights, your
liberty, and future. Our
San Luis Obispo criminal defense attorney delivers personal attention on every single case, so you get the one-on-one
counsel that you need and deserve.

What Else Sets Our DUI Lawyer Apart?

Trial-tested experience and insights

Flat fee rate with payment plans available

Convenient office hours & flexible appointments

Working relationship with local judges and prosecutors

Your San Luis Obispo Drunk Driving Lawyer

Meet Criminal Defense Attorney Trace Milan

Trace Milan has been licensed to practice law in California since 2007,
known by clients and peers alike for knowledgeable, dedicated advocacy.
Exclusively practicing criminal defense, he has a reputation for securing
positive results, even in tough, emotionally charged cases such as domestic violence.

We have represented local residents and out of town visitors, including
tourists, university students from Cal Poly, and people from all over
California who are facing drunk driving charges as well as
traffic violations. You can get the insightful, high-caliber defense you need from our local
law firm. Have our team custom-tailor a personalized legal strategy for
you that is effective and in your best interests.

Our criminal defense team can represent a wide range of DUI cases, including
those involving:

Here’s What You Can Do After a DUI Arrest

After a drunk driving arrest, you will have two different cases to handle.
The first is the case with the DMV, the other is with the criminal justice
system. You have 10 days to schedule your DMV hearing, a hearing to challenge
your DUI arrest and the subsequent driver’s license suspension.
If your drunk driving lawyer can successfully beat your license suspension,
you will still need a trial-ready defense to beat your charge in criminal
court. Our San Luis Obispo DUI & criminal defense firm has the resources
and knowhow to skillfully handle every step of your drunk driving case.

Here are crucial steps you can take right now:

What Are the Consequences for DUI in California?

In addition to having your license suspended, a DUI charge can expose you
to a wide range of criminal penalties – even for misdemeanor DUI
offenses. These penalties will vary in severity depending on the number
of prior convictions on your record, your level of intoxication, whether
or not anyone was injured, whether or not you refused a chemical test,
and whether or not a minor was present in the vehicle at the time of your
arrest. Because multiple DUI offenses only lead to steeper consequences,
it is in your best interest to take charges for even a first drunk driving
charge seriously. Let our lawyer offer the defense you need.

If this is your first DUI, you can face the following penalties:

Up to 6 months in jail

Fines and fees up to $3,600

Installation of an ignition interlock device

Dramatically increased car insurance rates

A second offense can bring more serious consequences:

Up to 1 year in jail

Fines and fees up to $4,000

Installation of an ignition interlock device

Participation in a 30-month DUI school program

Driver's License Suspension: Prepare for Your CA DMV Hearing

In addition to criminal proceedings for DUI, you must also undergo an administrative
proceeding to determine whether you will be able to maintain your driving
privileges. When you have been charged with driving under the influence,
you must request a hearing
within 10 days of your arrest – otherwise your driver’s license will be automatically suspended.

What happens in a DMV Hearing?

During the hearing, the evidence relating to your arrest will be reviewed
by the DMV hearing officer and you will be given the opportunity to challenge
the potential suspension. You can present evidence, witnesses, question
the arresting officer, and be represented by a DUI attorney.

Some important issues that can be explored during the DMV hearing include:

Was there probable cause to believe you were driving under the influence?

Were you lawfully arrested?

Were you driving with a BAC of .08% or higher?

If you refused chemical testing, were you informed of the consequences?

With the help of a skilled DUI lawyer, you can present a strong case that
weakens the evidence against you and protect your driving privileges.

Common DUI Defense Strategies

Upon a detailed examination of your case, our firm’s San Luis Obispo
DUI lawyers can craft a strategy that challenges the arresting officer’s
account of the incident and disputes the validity of the evidence against
you. No matter how serious your situation may be, we are committed to
exploring every possible opportunity to secure a reduction or dismissal
of your charges on your behalf.

Some of the strategies we may be able to use in your defense include:

Entrapment: The police may not coax you into committing a crime. If your arrest was
part of a sting operation engineered by law enforcement, you may have
been a victim of entrapment.

Mistake of fact: You may have been unaware that you were intoxicated at the time of your
arrest. If we can prove that you had a valid reason to believe you were
not under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of your arrest,
you may be able to avoid conviction.

Improper police actions: Were your rights violated in any way at the time of your arrest? Did the
arresting officer fake any evidence?

Inaccuracy of chemical tests: The accuracy and validity of chemical tests can be disputed. Did the officer
who conducted your breath test have proper training? Was your blood test
mishandled or tampered with?

Improper stop: A police officer must have probable cause in order to pull you over for
a suspected DUI. You cannot be found guilty if you were pulled over under
improper means.

Improper administration of sobriety tests: Was your arrest based on an improperly administered preliminary alcohol
screening (PAS) test? Field sobriety tests such as the horizontal gaze
nystagmus (HGN) test are often disputed in court.

Whether you need a skilled negotiator to get your charge or sentence reduced,
or you need a trial-tested San Luis Obispo DUI attorney to get your case
dismissed, you can rely on The Law Office of Trace Milan to find the legal
strategy that is right for you. We treat clients with respect and care,
making sure financial costs don’t get in the way of you receiving
exceptional defense. Find out more about our reasonable, flat fees, and
how we can help you today.